president obama walked away. now, the ball is in his court to actually give them something much better. if not these tax increases are going to be his, he'll own them and that's what they should want, rather than vote for something that's really going to hurt, hurt their reputation as being against tax increases. >> alisyn: but of course, the president, for whatever reason, thinks that polls and the public and his presidential win and the mood of the country is on his side. polls suggest that people are okay with the wealthiest paying more in taxes. so, the president, it appears from at least this game of strategy, that he thinks he can wait this out. >> well, i think the republicans have to believe in their principles rather than believe in polls in this case. if the president wants to take that risk, that's fine. the simple truth, if you want to help the poor and the middle class, you're not going to help them by raises taxes on the most productive americans, the people who start the businesses, who have the in